Black Knights easily handle Raiders 5-1

WELCOME | The sacrifice was a slow start and some early season losses for a North Davidson boys' soccer team that's accustomed to feasting on nonconference foes.

The reward can lie down the road, as in early November, when state-playoff berths are handed out.

The Black Knights have weaved their way through a tougher-than-usual nonleague slate, set up by new coach Greg Beall, and are now in the thick of a brutal Central Piedmont Conference schedule.

North notched its second conference win of the week by defeating South Rowan 5-1 Thursday night.

The victory was only the fourth of the season for Beall's bunch, but it evened their CPC mark at 2-2 and put them in a position to keep pace with the likes of Mount Tabor, Reynolds and West Forsyth.

"Me being new to the group and the group being new to me, there were going to be some growing pains as far as what we expect from each other," said Beall, who watched his team lose to Greensboro Grimsley, Ragsdale and Forbush, all top-notch programs in 4-A, 3-A and 2-A, respectively.

"Part of the problem was these guys were used to playing a weaker nonconference schedule. They hadn't been pushed. Our goal is to make it to states, and I think we're better prepared to do that because of who we've played."

North didn't play with the Raiders, getting a goal from Justin Stanfield in the fifth minute to start an onslaught that matched its season-high in goals.

Matt Plume added one in the 18th minute and then barely missed another in the 25th minute when his shot caromed off the side post.

The Knights tacked on three second-half goals, two by Lucas Breeden and one by Chris Young, before South Rowan averted the shutout with five minutes remaining.

"We've definitely got a variety of players who can contribute," said Beall, who came over to North after coaching one season at Ledford. "One of our focuses has been to come out with intensity at the beginning of the match.

"We have to recognize all opponents can beat us if we're not playing well or ready to play."

North's two CPC setbacks have come to Mount Tabor (2-0) and to West Forsyth (2-1 in overtime). The league only sends three teams to the playoffs, and the Knights, 4-7 overall, are aiming to extend their postseason streak to four.

"Our new coach has gotten us ready for conference with a lot of hard games," said senior fullback/forward Matthew Sprinkle, one of the team captains. "And our conference is up for grabs. Everybody is knocking off everybody.

"We've been improving through every game, and pretty much our team has learned all season how to play with each other. Things are coming around."

Notes: Young, Chris Martinez, Justin Tucker, Plume and Adam Everhart each had one assist. ... The Raiders, now 0-3 in the league, 1-7 overall, scored when North goalie Scott Stauffer had trouble squeezing a weak bouncer off a direct kick. That allowed Matt Corriher to step up and boot the loose ball into the net. ... North outshot the Raiders 26-4. ... The Knights play at Davie County Monday.

Carlton Hurt can be reached at 249-3981, ext. 220, or carlton.hurt@the-dispatch.com.